The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-05-28
DIGGER INDIANS.
Some Facts About Those Who Live
in Nevada County.

Few people perhaps know that the
Diggers who live in Pleasant Valley,
and are known as the PambIos, have a
musical man among them. This Dig
ger is known as Bob. He is really
good performer on the guitar, flute, fife,
violin, organ and harmonica. He has
played for several "pale-face" dances,
and handles violin like master.
He is pure-blooded Digger, and, so
far as he knows, none of his ancestors
were unsteady inclined.
The tribe also boasts of having cen
tenarian, an old squaw, whose hair is
white as snow, whose daughter Is rs
wears old, and whose only English
ejaculation is, Gimme two bits"
Captain Pamblo is a short, wiry old
fellow. He is about 80 years of age,and
is one of the most inveterate hunters in
the country. His unerring aim has laid
low many jackass rabbit, land humbled
to the dust many proud woodpecker.
Many people do not know why the
Diggers prize the red scalp of the wood
pecker. The reason is this: Whenever
they have dance, or, as they call 1T,
"a big SOUP" they rig themselves out
as Enthusiastically as possible. Every
buck who wishes to dance must buy a
ticket. paying for it in good solid Amer
lean silver.
AS a ticket the scalp of the wood
pecker recommends itself. 1t is gaudy
and conspicuous. The tall feathers of
the yellow hammer are used for the
same purpose, two feathers being
fastened to little stick which is worn
in the hair or carried in the hand.
Thsse "big soups" are frequent. A
Digger will work hard for a week or
two when the acorns are ripe and lay
in supply of them for winter. Then
he will notify some other tribe, and all
his relations back to the tenth genera
ton will come to see him and help him
devour the whole lot. Then they in
yite the family to the host of their
"campooda." and so the Visitinti and
'big souping" goes on till all the rela-
tons have visi.ed each other and there
are no more acorns to devour.
he cares little for the fashionable
follies of the world. Some of them are
noted for their wicked ways, and one of
the Pamblos, hard case known as
"Scar-Face Dick" or Dick Tomale, has
been holy terror among his people for
many years. Several efforts have been
mad to kill him by his tribe and the
Nevada City Indians, but all have
failed. He is the most intelligent Dig
ger of them all, and will discuss any
subject, not ignoring religious matters.
But his favorite subject is spiritualism.
His arguments are often full of dry,
sarcastic humor. The dry humor is a
part of the average Digger's disposition.
Captain Pamblo was once passing q
house where a young lady was singing
vigorously. He paused and listened.
Then turning to a boy who was playing
near, he said, gravely: why for she
cly2" Dick Tomale once listened
gravely TO several young men and
women who were discussing ghosts. AT
last he interrupted them and in his
drawing way said: "Ya-as, believe in
ghosts, too. met ghost one night,
I wasn't exactly full, but L had some
wine.It was dark, and saw big white
ghost get up out of the ground and
stand in front of me. l hauled off and
hit it with my fist, you bet"
"Well, said a listener, what was it. !"
Dick looked around mysteriously,
picked up his rifle, spat at fly on his
sleeve, and as he moves off wi b light
and cunning air, said in a loud whisper:
at was rock. "-NeYada City Herald.